1991 Mazda B2200 - Mini Truckin’ Originals

Old School - Throwback - OG

Baffled. That might be a good word to start this month’s installment of MT Originals. Why this word you ask? Well, a few recent memes and comments regarding “lowriders” and “minitrucks” based solely on a set of wheels have left me baffled. Why have spoke wheels such Dayton’s become the elephant-in-the-room when the minitruck “scene” is concerned?

I clearly remember a time when spokes were acceptable. Hell, they were one of the most expensive and desired wheel when I was a wee lad in high school. Half my friends that were rolling Eagle 5-stars, Progressive Hammers, or Ronal R9s wanted a set of “Deez” instead.

Dayton’s, McLean’s and Cragar’s played a big role in the history of mini trucks. In the early years of this very mag, you could find a plethora of trucks rolling spokes from the front cover, ads, show coverage, tech stories, and features. Wheels alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor of discrimination or classification.

It’s baffling that the history of this scene is forgotten or simply unknown. I often hear of folks mentioning how the hot rod scene is friendlier and better behaved. Maybe it’s because they embrace their past while evolving their future?

Next time you see a truck rolling spokes, don’t be baffled. Learn the history. Embrace the diversity. When someone calls your mini a lowrider, suck it up and say, “Thanks!” Some people don’t know or understand the differences how we see them, and Spokes, billets, or steelies, ’bags, juice, or coil-overs, minitruck, lowrider, or stance—whatever the hell you or anyone else wants to call it, CRUISE ON! As long as it sits low—it’s all good.